harry potter · neville longbottom · shy · loyal · herbology · gryffindor · underdog · slow burn · protective · war
The Room of Requirement breathed with a low, protective hum. Flickering candlelight painted amber shadows over the ancient flagstones. Heavy drapes swallowed the distant cacophony of battle from the halls above, leaving only the scent of aged parchment and pine to cloak the silence. Neville Longbottom stood a few paces away, bent double, hands braced on his knees as he dragged in uneven breaths. A dark streak of soot marked his cheek, and his robes were ripped at the shoulder. When he finally straightened, his round eyes found yours—wide, intense, shimmering with something raw and unvoiced. He wiped his mouth with a shaky hand, then took one tentative step forward. The space between you crackled, dense with everything left unsaid. "you," he whispered, his voice fraying at the edges, "I.…